MLB’s Best ShortStop Isn’t on the All-Star Game Ballot

Jake Ciely 11:43 am, May 20th, 2016

We all know the MLB All-Star Game voting process is a bit flawed. After all, you can vote online up to 35 times, which leads to "stuffing," which is even worse when everyone knows there are ways around that 35 limit. Fans still vote for hitters only, which is still confusing if MLB supposedly trusts the fans. In any case, because teams have to submit their player lists before the season, we have one of the best players not on the list for votes.

Sure, you can write-in votes, but here we go trusting fans again (more on that in a minute) and from what I can find (maybe you can help if I'm wrong) the last write-in player to actually have enough votes to make the All-Star Game happened in 1974, when Steve Garvey also won the All-Star Game MVP. Could we see the same again this year?

Would you vote for a player hitting .372, second only to Daniel Murphy and best for his position?

Would you vote for a player with a 1.039 OPS, which is fourth best in all of baseball?

Would you vote for a player with six home runs, 28 runs and 21 RBI?

Can you name that player? Can you correctly spell that player's name?

It's Cardinals' shortstop Aledmys Diaz.

It makes sense why Diaz wasn't on the ballot, as the Cardinals were expecting Jhonny Peralta to be their everyday shortstop prior to injury. However, one of the best players in baseball isn't an option.

On top of that, Diaz could struggle to get the write-in votes, since Aledmys is certainly harder to spell than "Steve." Plus, we're talking about Americans who want everything fast and easy these days. You mean to tell me I have to click on the Write-in spot, type in Diaz's name every.single.time. and make sure I spell it right? Ugh... sigh... forget it, I'll just vote for Trevor Story even though he's hitting just .275 with four homers after hitting .309 with eight home runs in the first 12 games.